Livestock producers currently can be charged with misdemeanor animal neglect if they fail to provide adequate care or control that results in substantial harm to an animal.

A bill pending before Nixon would apply the animal neglect charge only to inadequate care — not poor control.

Instead, the bill creates a new offense of animal trespass, defined as knowingly failing to provide adequate control of animals for at least 12 hours. It would be an infraction on a first offense and a misdemeanor only for repeat offenders.

The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association says the bill could spare producers from being made criminals when cows walk over a fence.